Brand new Wrexham University centre nears completion
Construction began in February 2024, and on Thursday, June 5, university colleagues, the main contractor Wynne Construction, and Ambition North Wales gathered to celebrate the project's progress.
The new building will provide a centre for collaboration and skills development in sustainability, renewables, and high-value manufacturing, with a particular focus on lightweight composites, hydrogen technologies, and optics and photonics expertise.
The centre is spread across two university sites, the Plas Coch campus in Wrexham and the OpTIC Technology Centre at the St Asaph campus.
The university is committed to reducing its environmental impact, and the construction of the centre was planned to contribute positively to decarbonisation, biodiversity, and social value goals.
Various materials were selected to minimise the carbon footprint, including photovoltaic panels to generate electricity, innovative insulation to reduce energy use, and a heat pump system to minimise reliance on traditional heating.
Low-carbon steel, made from recycled steel, was used in the construction, and ground granulated blast-furnace slag, a by-product of steel manufacturing, was used in the concrete mix to further reduce the carbon footprint.
The university's campuses have seen a 30.5 per cent increase in biodiversity as a result of the project, with trees planted and wildflower seeds sown at the Northop campus to provide a habitat for insects, birds, and small animals.
Professor Joe Yates, vice-chancellor of Wrexham University, said: "The near completion of the EEOC building also marks a superb milestone for sustainability in the project's positive contributions to decarbonisation, social value and enhancing biodiversity.
"The project team have done an excellent job—from ensuring that materials were carefully selected and sourced to ensure a reduction in our carbon footprint to a 30% increase in biodiversity on our campuses."
Social and local economic value targets were surpassed during the construction phase, with more than 400 jobs safeguarded and nearly 60 per cent of the workforce residing in Wales.
The supply chain strategy directed 76 per cent of spend to North Wales SMEs.
Apprenticeships have been key in building skills in the area, with 80 per cent of apprentices recruited from North Wales.
Chris Wynne, managing director of Wynne Construction, said: "We are incredibly proud to have collaborated with Wrexham University on the delivery of this exceptional building and to play a role in a transformative programme that benefits not only the University but the wider North Wales region."
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Cllr Dave Hughes, lead member for the North Wales Growth Deal's Innovation in High Value Manufacturing programme, Ambition North Wales, said: "The EEOC is a prime example of the sustainable, economic development we aim to deliver through our Innovation in High Value Manufacturing programme—securing high-value employment and training opportunities and supporting manufacturing businesses to decarbonise.
"The project has really delivered at pace while maintaining a focus on its social value commitments, which I'm delighted were also highlighted today."
The EEOC is on target to open for the start of the next academic year in September 2025.
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